Faculty/Staff Detail

Peter M. McGinnis, Kinesiology Department, was inducted into the third class of the Swarthmore College Garnet Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 31. A multi-sport athlete at the college, McGinnis, who graduated in 1976, excelled as a pole vaulter on Swarthmore’s outdoor track and field team. He became Swarthmore’s first track and field All-American by placing fifth at the 1975 NCAA Championships. At the Penn Relays in 1976, McGinnis set the still-existing college outdoor pole vault record of 15 feet. Now a leading expert in the field, McGinnis has been an adviser to USA Track & Field for more than 30 years, providing scientific services to elite U.S. pole vaulters and their coaches to prepare them for the Olympic Games, IAAF World Championships and other competitions. As pole vault coach at SUNY Cortland, McGinnis has mentored two NCAA pole vault champions.